Big 12: Bobby Evans

Evaluating recruits is an inexact science. From every class, five-star prospects become busts; two-star signees turn into All-Americans.

But as an exercise, I've compiled below what an All-Big 12 team would look like based solely on ESPN RecruitingNation rankings -- even though the actual All-Big 12 teams down the road are sure to look very different (jucos not included):

Everyone relax. Again, this is not a personal projection. It's based solely on the ESPN RecruitingNation evaluations and rankings. Some will be right. Some will be wrong. OK, you can all breathe again.

The teams above underscore how dominant the defensive classes from Texas and Oklahoma were. The Longhorns landed the league's two best linebackers in Malik Jefferson and Anthony Wheeler, and its best safety in DeShon Elliott. Bob Stoops, meanwhile, called this the best secondary class the Sooners had signed in his tenure, and it's difficult to argue with Oklahoma bringing in a pair of blue-chippers in P.J. Mbanasor and Will Sunderland. Both Red River rivals have difference-makers coming in at every level. It will be interesting to watch how they all develop.

Oklahoma State and Texas Tech quietly put together a pair of noteworthy classes up front. Besides loading up on transfer offensive linemen, the Cowboys signed two of the Big 12's best high school blockers in Johnny Wilson and Vaimoe Sekona. On the other side, Louis Brown is a little raw, but he has the athleticism to be a big-time playmaking defensive end down the line. In Lubbock, Madison Akamnonu and Conner Dyer have the chance to be cornerstones for future Tech offensive lines. The Red Raiders also scored a potential stud up front defensively in tackle Breiden Fehoko. Both the Cowboys and Red Raiders successfully beefed up their trenches, after enduring major struggles last year (OSU offensively, Tech defensively).

Once again, Baylor and West Virginia are two of the leaders in incoming skill talent. Jovon Durante is top-rated receiving coming into the Big 12 and has a chance to help the Mountaineers in 2015 at a position of need. Also watch out for his Miramar, Florida, cohort, cornerback Tyrek Cole, who will be joining a potentially loaded West Virginia secondary. Baylor signed the league's top QB in Jarrett Stidham, one of its top-three running backs in Ja'Mycal Hasty and a dynamic receiver in Blake Lynch. Once again, neither the Bears nor the Mountaineers will be lacking firepower.

TCU doesn't show up much on the above teams, but last season's 12-1 record will have a much bigger effect on the Class of 2016. In fact, it already has. The Horned Frogs are off to a phenomenal start on next year's class with eight 2016 commits already on board, including four in the ESPN Junior 300.

BAYLORTotal commits: 8
ESPN 300 commits: 6
The latest: The Bears have gotten off to an awesome start offensively, but they would love to keep safety Kahlil Haughton home. Haughton has numerous offers, including LSU and Oklahoma as well as Big Ten powers Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

IOWA STATETotal commits: 1
ESPN 300 commits: 0
The latest: Mark Mangino helped change Kansas' fortune by unearthing gem QB Todd Reesing, who eventually took the Jayhawks to the Orange Bowl. The Cyclones have extended an offer to dual-threat QB Joe Burrow, who had a phenomenal junior season with 53 total TDs and just six picks. With offers beginning to pour in, Iowa State will have to fight to get him, but Burrow would be a huge pickup for Mangino's first offensive recruiting class.

KANSASTotal commits: 1
ESPN 300 commits: 0
The latest: The Jayhawks finally picked up their first commitment over the weekend, but it was a big one. Ryan Willis is the No. 26 pocket-passing QB in the country, and was being pursued by Kansas State and Illinois. His dad went to Kansas State, but Willis was drawn to new coordinator John Reagan’s offense. Willis went to the same high school as Kansas’ current starting QB Montell Cozart, and could be Cozart’s successor down the line.

KANSAS STATETotal commits: 1
ESPN 300 commits: 0
The latest: The Wildcats also have only one commit so far in three-star QB Alex Delton, but it too was a key pickup. Delton reportedly put on a show during the Dallas Elite 11 QB camp over the weekend. With starter Jake Waters a senior next season, the K-State QB position could be up for grabs in 2015.

OKLAHOMA Total commits: 3
ESPN 300 commits: 3
The latest: The Sooners are looking to beef up their offensive and defensive lines in this class, and are in on several big-time prospects. Oklahoma already owns commitments from DT Marquise Overton and OT Bobby Evans, and will be angling to keep the nation’s No. 1 offensive guard Jalin Barnett in state.

TEXASTotal commits: 9
ESPN 300 commits: 5
The latest: Only two of the nine verbal commitments Mack Brown landed for 2015 are still on the commit list, as new coach Charlie Strong has completely revamped the Longhorns’ recruiting game plan. Texas, however, still doesn’t have a top-10 in-state player on board. That could change emphatically if the Longhorns could snag the state’s No. 5 player -- outside linebacker Malik Jefferson, who will announce his college plans after the upcoming football season.

WEST VIRGINIATotal commits: 10
ESPN 300 commits: 2
The latest: With a host of skill players already on board, snagging players in the trenches will be the focus. West Virginia got in early on three-star guard George Asafo-Adjei, who received an offer from Florida over the weekend.

The talk of the Big 12 circled around the meltdown of the Texas defense, which ultimately led to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. While that went on, Baylor put up 70 points and a school-record 781 total yards against Buffalo, and Oklahoma topped West Virginia in the only interconference battle of the week.

While Big 12 teams had their storylines, a few conference recruiting targets also managed to make headlines. Here are some of the highlights from the weekend.

College football is in full effect, but high school football opened with a bang as well. From SportsCenter-worthy catches to conflicting reports about a Big 12 commit -- or decommit, depending on which side you believe -- the weekend is expected to provide a lot of enthusiasm and excitement.